Benefits of Music Education

Why Orchestra?

Participating in Orchestra provides the opportunity to learn numerous lifelong skills in a unique way. Some benefits to being in Orchestra include:

Perseverance/Grit: In today's world, we are often encouraged to look for the easy way to do things. However, playing a string instrument is difficult, especially at first! It takes time and repetition to make a clear sound, even on the open strings. The Orchestra classroom is a place where risk-taking and mistakes are expected and welcomed in order to continue to learn (growth mindset).

Positive Peer Relationships: By being in a welcoming, encouraging class with peers, students are able to build relationships with one another based on trust and respect. True story: To this day, I remain close friends with several people from my Elem/MS/HS orchestra classes!

Collaboration: Playing in an ensemble is a challenging skill. You learn to listen and adjust as you try to match the speed of those around you. You work to make the best group sound possible.

Problem Solving: In Orchestra, students enjoy playing "be the teacher" as I demonstrate common concerns for beginning students (such as having a scratchy sound, or not getting any sound). The students use the knowledge they have and apply it in new circumstances. Students also are encouraged to give specific feedback about how we can make our performances better.

Literacy/Math: Students begin/continue to read music notation in Elementary Orchestra. There are known connections with fluency in music and fluency as a text reader. Working on reading and playing rhythms helps reinforce a variety of mathematical concepts from basic counting to fractions and measurement.

Motor Skills: As students refine their playing skills, they are improving their dexterity in their fingers, hands, and arms. Doing two different motions with the two sides of the body means both hemispheres of the brain are engaged simultaneously.

Modes of Learning: People benefit from encountering a variety of learning modes, and playing an instrument uses several of these in combination. One acronym for the learning styles is "VARK:" Visual (learning by looking), Aural (learning by listening), Reading & Writing, and Kinesthetic (hands-on learning).

Additional Resources (under construction):

I am working on building a collection of resources that you can read/view to learn more about this topic. Thanks for your patience :)

Articles about the Benefits of Music Education:

PBS story link

National Association for Music Education link